Extension-table



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS Q. HALL, OF FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 31,312, dated February 5, 1861.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS Q. HALL, of Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension- Tables; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a horizontal section through the upper parts of the legs, side and extension rails the latter being shown in the position when the table is reduced to its smallest compass, the leaves being represented in dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents the same parts as Fig. l when the rails are extended and additional leaves inserted in the table. Fig. 3 represents a set of rails which may be used in addition to those represented in the preceding figures for thefurther extension of the table.

My invention relates to the peculiar construction combination and arrangement of the hinged folding extension rails leaves and supports of a table by which a firm connection is made between the two halves of the table when they are extended or when folded up or contracted.

It also relates to the combination of said extension rails with the peculiarly constructed leaves, so as to brace the table sidewise when extended and thus to make a iirm connection of the table when in that position.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, and B, represents the legs of the table in horizontal sections they are connected to each other by the rails C, and the permanent tops, D, of the table are secured to the legs and to the rails C.

The oval shaped leaves E, which are only partially represented in the drawings are hinged in the usual manner to the tops D, and they can be turned up and down, and held by a hinged brace in the usual manner.

The stationary side rails, F, are tenoned in alternate positions to the legs, A, and are secured also to the tops D, to these stationary rails are hinged the rails, G, and H, the hinges being secured to them in such a manner that the rails can be folded up as represented in Fig. 1.

The rails, F, at their hinged ends are provided with dowel pins, a, which in the folded up position enter suitable dowel holes in the sides of the legs, B, while in the extended position they enter the dowel holes, b, of the rails G, in that position the tenons, c, of the rails, H, enter the dowel holes d, of the rails, Gr, and the dowel pins, g, of the rails H, enter suitable holes in the sides of the legs B.

IVhen this table is to be extended its two halves are pulled apart, and the rails adopt the positions represented in Fig. 2, the leaves, K, and, L, are then inserted and the cleats, M, of these leaves which are attached to their lower sides in an oblique position bear against the sides of the movable rails, Gr, H, extend them to their utmost capacity and thus make them perfectly rigid thereby making a permanent connection between the rigid rails, F, and the legs, B, without any cross bracing except that afforded by the leaves. The advantage of this arrangement is that the table is braced firmly against any side motion, when extended and that it is equally well secured when contracted as the rails in that position enter the legs B by means of the dowels a, g, above described thereby preventing one half from moving sidewise from the other. To secure the rails in the folded up position so that the table may not be pulled apart I lock them by means of buttons, N, which turn on pins or bolts, 7L.

This construction admits of almost any desired number of leaves being inserted in the table by inserting additional rails, a set of which is represented in Fig. 3. These may be used as follows: Thehinge, 1, is detached from the leg, B, and the hinge, 2, Fig. 3, of the additional rails is secured in its place, the hinge, 1, is then secured to the end, 8, of the additional rails which brings the supporting leg, O, into the middle between the legs, A, and, B, and the leaves are then placed on the rails and holds them to the proper position by means of the cleats on their lower side. A table with the additional number of rails can be contracted in a similar manner as above described and the folded rails will then extend farther inward to both sides and may be secured by inserting a brace or any other locking device. Then permanent cross bracing is used with the hinged folding rails-they cannot be so readily and closely folded up or contracted, but by my mode of bracing with the leaves themselves the table will of said table When constructed arranged and operated substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

2. In combination With the extension rails herein described the extension leaves provided With oblique cleats for the purpose of making a braced rule-joint and thus bracing the extended table against lateral motion substantially as herein described.

THOMAS Q. HALL.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. CUNNINGHAM, THos. D. EVANS. 

